Your generous unrestricted gift will help Otsego 2000’s efforts to preserve the unique historic, cultural, environmental, and agricultural assets of the Otsego Lake region now and into the future.
There are many ways to support the us. Please explore the page below to learn more about the
variety of giving options.
Individual Giving
Otsego 2000 is grateful to all of the individuals and families who make it possible for us to continue to build upon our programs and help this wonderful community thrive. We rely on the support of our community to be able to do all that we do. We are grateful for donations of any size.
To donate online, click here.
Checks can be made payable to “Otsego 2000” and mailed to:
PO Box 1130
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Mandatory IRA Distributions
Did you know that you must begin withdrawing from your IRA after you reach age 72 (73 if you reach age 72 after 2022)? Additionally, there are new provisions that allow a one-time tax-free qualified charitable distribution (QCD) up to $50,000 from an IRA to fund a gift that pays income for life, such as a charitable gift annuity. To learn more about required minimum distributions, visit www.IRS.gov, or contact your tax consultant.
Donations of Stock
We accept donations of stock through our Vanguard brokerage account. For giving instructions, including how to donate stock, please click here.
Checks can be made payable to “Otsego 2000” and mailed to:
PO Box 1130
Cooperstown, NY 13326
Sustained Giving - Make an impact all year long
Sustained giving, also known as a recurring donation, is a convenient and affordable way to make your unrestricted contribution to Otsego 2000. Your sustained commitment helps to support Otsego 2000’s operations and programs year-round by providing a steady source of revenue. Your credit card will be charged monthly, quarterly, biannually (you choose) in the amount that you specify, and will automatically renew unless you opt to change or cancel.
To join our Sustained Giving Program, select the frequency option on our online donation form and select your preferred frequency.
Questions? Contact Ellen Pope at (607) 547-8881 or director@otsego2000.org.
The Cooper Circle
Members in the Cooper Circle demonstrate commitment to stewardship of our Otsego Lake Region’s singular natural, historic, and agricultural resources by making generous gifts of $1,000 or more in unrestricted support. By providing anchor funding, Cooper Circle members make it possible for Otsego 2000 to continue its vigilance and advocacy on behalf of our community as soon as challenges arise. None of Otsego 2000’s accomplishments would be possible without the critical annual support of these individuals and institutions. Otsego 2000 hosts an annual private gathering each summer to honor Cooper Circle members and to provide in-depth updates on our programs and critical issues facing the region.
Planned Giving
Below you can find the most popular forms of planned gifts. Please consult with a financial, tax, or legal advisor about the method of contributing that is best for you.
Bequests. A bequest made through a will or living trust is the most common method utilized to make a planned gift to Otsego 2000. Your bequest may be in the form of a predetermined sum, percentage, or the remainder of an estate and may consist of cash, securities, life insurance proceeds, real estate, and/or personal property. To leave a gift in your will, consult your financial, tax, or legal advisor and share:
“I bequeath $___ or ___% of my estate to Otsego 2000, Inc., Taxpayer Identification No. 11-2654945.”
Beneficiary Designation. You may choose to make Otsego 2000, Inc. the beneficiary of all or a portion of an IRA, life insurance plan, qualified retirement plan, brokerage account, etc. Should you choose to move forward with such a gift, please be sure to update your beneficiary designation form accordingly.
Charitable Trusts. Charitable trusts are a favorable option when planning your estate, providing you, the donor, with a wide range of benefits. Charitable trusts can play a role in reducing income and estate tax, as well as protecting your assets. The two types of charitable trusts we most frequently see are:
Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs). A CRT is an irrevocable trust that allows you to make a gift to Otsego 2000 while reaping the benefit from your assets. Cash, securities, or other property are placed in a trust that provides an income to you or your designated beneficiary/beneficiaries for life or a set period of time.
Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs). A CLT is also an irrevocable trust that allows you to benefit from the tax savings that result from supporting Otsego 2000 without giving up the assets that you hope to pass down to your family. Consisting of cash, securities or other property, this type of charitable trust distributes fixed, periodic payments to Otsego 2000 for a set amount of time.
Otsego 2000 is grateful for all inquiries; planned gifts of any size have an impact and are invaluable in helping future generations for years to come.
To notify us of your legacy gift, please contact Ellen Pope, Executive Director, at director@otsego2000.org. She can also be reached for questions at (607) 547-8881.
Otsego 2000 is grateful to our institutional partners, foundations, businesses, and government agencies:
By making a charitable gift to Otsego 2000, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, the donor understands that charitable donations are not refundable.
All information concerning donors or prospective donors, including their names, addresses and telephone numbers, the names of their beneficiaries, the amount of their gift, etc., shall be kept strictly confidential by Otsego 2000, its staff and volunteers, unless permission is obtained from donors to release such information.
The organization also assures donors that their names and addresses will not be shared with any third party unless permission has been granted.